Roma 2 Fulham 1: Beaten Cottagers fume as they end with nine men

05 November 2009 22:45
The refereeing scourge which has blighted Fulham's Europa League adventure struck again in the Stadio Olimpico to leave them facing elimination. [LNB]Leading by a Diomansy Kamara penalty, Roy Hodgson's men went into half-time in control of an insipid Roma side. [LNB]Within four minutes of the restart, Dutch official Kevin Blom had changed all that. The harsh dismissal of Fulham substitute Erik Nevland for a clumsy rather than malicious lunge from behind on Roma captain Daniele De Rossi altered the course of the match and Group E.[LNB]Roma gained an impetus to come from behind and win, while Blom reduced Fulham to nine men in added time by sending off Paul Konchesky for another foul this one on Rodrigo Taddei which warranted a yellow card.[LNB] Bundle: Roma players are in boisterous mood after Chuka's winning strike[LNB][LNB]The cruelty of the outcome was compounded by the manner of Roma's 69th-minute equaliser. In a city founded by two brothers, the Riise family were torn apart when Roma's John Arne sent in a shot following a corner which was deflected into his own net by younger brother Bjorn Helge.[LNB]From then on, Fulham's evening fell apart. Roma could have won by a handful by the end. Instead, a Stefano Okaka Chuka header from a Taddei cross 14 minutes from time settled it.[LNB]With Roma having smuggled a point out of Craven Cottage a fortnightago in equally contentious circumstances, Hodgson's team must now winboth of their remaining fixtures to reach the knockout stages.[LNB][LNB] Screamer: Riise levels the score at the Stadio Olypico[LNB][LNB]Hodgson was clearly livid but stopped short of revealing his truefeelings. He said: 'You can't expect me to be happy in the face ofinjustice. I thought both red cards were harsh but what does it matterwhat I think?[LNB]'We were clearly the better team, the controlling team in the firsthalf, and to have to play with 10 men for the whole of the second half,like we did at Craven Cottage, was hard.'[LNB]Ironically, Fulham thrived last Saturday when Liverpool were controversially reduced to nine men with sendings off. [LNB] On the spot: Kamara beats Alexander Doni from 12 yards[LNB]Last night began promisingly. The virtue of attacking in a straightline was rewarded after 19 minutes when Zoltan Gera thrust the ballinto Clint Dempsey, who turned it back inside to Kamara, whose slickcontrol on to his left foot fooled Marco Andreolli into a trip, andKamara converted the penalty. [LNB]Roma ought to have levelled when Philippe Mexes headed a curlingCicinho cross wide, while Dempsey and Kamara spurned chances for Fulham.[LNB]Blom might have awarded Roma a penalty after 42 minutes when a Mexes drive struck John Pantsil on the hand. He might also have sent off Jonathan Greening for a second yellow card.[LNB] Red mist: Blom gives Nevland his marching orders[LNB]AS ROMA (4-4-2): Doni 6 (Sergio 46min, 6); Cassetti 6, Andreolli 6,Mexes 6, Riise 7; Cicinho 7 (Taddei 46, 7), De Rossi 6, Pizarro 6,Guberti 5 (Menez 65, 5); Okaka Chuka 6, Baptista 5.[LNB]Booked: Andreolli, Okaka, De Rossi.[LNB]FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer 6; Pantsil 6, Hughes 7, Hangeland 6,Konchesky 6; Gera 5, Greening 6, Etuhu 8 (Baird 77), Riise 6 (Zamora70, 6); Kamara 7 (Nevland 46, 5), Dempsey 6.[LNB]Booked: Greening, Hangeland, Baird.[LNB]Sent off: Nevland, Konchesky.[LNB]Man of the match: Dickson Etuhu.[LNB]Referee: Kevin Blom (Holland).[LNB] Roma v Fulham: When in Rome, do as Roy Hodgson's teams do...Roma 2 Fulham 1: The action as it happenedFULHAM FC

Source: Daily_Mail